Ice cream freezer



ZShQetS-Sheet A. 1 RQEBUCK ICE CREAM FRE-EZER Filed Deo. 18, 1928 July 5, 1932.

/N l/ENTOR.'

ATTORNEY.

v July 5, 1932. A. 1 RoEBUcK ICE CREAM FREEZER yFiled Deo. 18, 1928 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Vl/E; TOR

ddf. acu www. ATTORNEY Patented July 5, 1932 PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED L. ROEBUCK, OF WINCHENIDON, MASSACHUSETTS ICE CREAM FREEZER Application filed December 18, 1928. Serial No. 326,812.

This invention relates to that class of devices known as ice cream freezers, and more particularly to the type of ice cream freezer having a tight closure for confining the cold air in the ice chamber.

ln making ice cream a saving of ice is secured and the cream will remain hard in the freezer for a longerperiod of time if the freezer tub is provided with a tight closure adapted to confine the cold air in the ice chamber. Freezers of this general type have been employed heretofore and in such prior constructions the cream can extends downwardly into the tub through an openingin the closure, and the Lipper end of the can has been permanently secured to the closure to form a tight joint therebetween.

lt is desirable however to removably secure the cream can to the closure so that the can may be readily removed when it is desired n to empty and wash the can, and one of the features of the present invention therefore resides in means for removably securing the cream can to the closure.

In some form of freezers, and more particularly in the types in which-the dasher or agitator is omitted, it is desirable to invert the freezer during the freezing operation to increase the freezing action in the upper'portion of the cream can. This requires, however, a. construction in which the openings in the closure and cream can may be made watertight to prevent the cream and salt water from escaping` when the freezer is inverted.

Another feature of the present invention therefore resides in an ice cream freezer having a water-tight cover for the cream can and for theV ice receiving opening in the closure, and also a water-tight construction for removably securing the cream can to the closure so that the freezer may yhe inverted during the freezing operation to promote freezing of the cream.

A more specific feature of the invention resides in camming `elements for locking the can in the closure and for locking the covers in place, and in gaskets or packing material associated with the covers and can securing means to form tight oints.

A further feature of the invention resides in a double wall tub having a novel construction for securing the upper ends of the inner and outer walls of the tub to the annular outer flange of the closure to form a strong, tight connection therebetween.

The above and other features of the invention and novel combination of parts will be best understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating one good practical form of the invention.

In the drawings,-

Fig. l is a top plan view of an ice cream freezer constructed in accordance with the present invention; i

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale is a vertical sectional view showing the interlocking elements p for removably securing the cream can to the closure;

Fig. 4L- is a vertical sectional view showing the interlocking elements for removably securing the cover to the cream can;

Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the upper y portion ofthe cream can;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the under face of the cover for the ice receiving opening in the closure;

7 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the cream can, the can cover being shown in section;

Fig. 8 is aV perspective view of the under face of the tub closure; and Y F ig.9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the ice cream freezer consists ofy a tub 10 having a closure ll se-A cured to the upper end of the tub, andthe cream can `12 is removably secured in an opening 13 of the closure and is supported by the closure in spaced relation to the side walls and bottom of the tub 10.

The tub 10 may have any well known or preferred construction. and is shown as comprising an outer metal container 14 and an inner metal container 15, the inner container being supported in spaced relation to the walls of the outercontainer to vproviole the dead air chamber 16 therebetween. The containers 14 and 15 have bottoms 17 and 18 respectively, which are supported in spaced relation to each other as shown.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the closure 11 is given the dished construction shown, having a depressed central portion and an upstanding annular flange; this, however, is not an essential feature of the present invention, but is desirable since it facilitates the introduction of the crushed ice into the tub through the opening 19 of the closure and causes any water upon the upper concaved surface of the closure to drain through the opening 19 into the tub 10. The upper concave face of the closure 11 preferably slopes downwardly towards the opening 19, as will be apparent from Fig. 9, to facilitate draining of the water into the ice receiving opening. The closure 11 may constitute a metal casting, or if desired, may be constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material.

As above stated, an important feature of the present invention resides in means for removably securing the cream can 12 to the closure and for providing a tight joint between the can and closure. This is accomplished, in accordance with the present invention, by providing the upper end portion of the cream can 12 with a ring 2() in the inner face of which is preferably provided a shallow depression which extends downwardly from the shoulder portion 21 of the ring to the bottom thereof, this depression being adapted to receive and snugly embrace the upper end of the cream can 12, and the ring 2O is soldered or otherwise permanently secured to the upper end of the can 12. rIhe ring 20 is provided at its outer face intermediate its ends with the outwardly extending annular flange 22, the construction being such that when the lower portion of the ring is inserted within the opening 13 of the closure the flange 22 will enter a depression 23 formed in the upper face of the closure and will serve to support the can 12 suspended within the tub 10, as will be apparent from Fig. 2.

A bayonet-joint connection is preferably employed for removably securing the upper end of the can to the closure and to this end the closure 11 is provided with the clearance notches 24 adapted to clear the lugs 25 that extend outwardly from the lower portion of the ring 2O and this ring is preferably provided with the downwardly extending earlike portions 26 to which the lugs 25 are rigidly secured. At the under face of the closure 11 adjacent the clearance notches 24 are provided the downwardly extending bosses 27 adapted to engage the lugs 25 to 4prevent rotation of the can 12 in the wrong direction` and also to arrest the rotation of the can in a position in which the lugs 25 will pass through the slots 24 when it is desired' to remove the can from the tub 10. The under face of the closure 11 is also provided with the downwardly sloping cams 28 disposed at the periphery of the opening 13 and which are adapted to cooperate with the lugs 25 to firmly secure the cream can to the closure.

rlhe construction just described for removably securing the cream can within the closure 11 is such that when it is desired to secure the cream can within the tub all that is necessary is to insert the can 12 within the opening 13 of the closure and turn the can so that the lugs 25 will pass downwardly through the clearance slots 24, whereupon the can is rotated to bring the lugs 25 into locking engagement with the downwardly inclined surfaces of the cams 28. In many cases it may be desirable to provide a water-tight joint between the can and closure; this is readily accomplished by providing a gasket or other packing material 29 within the recess 23 formed in the upper face of the closure.

A further feature of the present invention resides in a cover 30 for the cream can provided with novel means for removably securing this cover to the cream can. In the construction shown the downwardly extending annular wall 31 of the cover is provided with the inwardly extending lugs rIhese lugs are adapted to cooperate with the downwardly sloping camming surfaces with which the ribs or projections 33 formed on the outer face of the upper portion of the ring 20 are provided. In case it is desired to form a fluid tight ioint between the cream can and the cover 30, this is accomplished by simply providing a gasket ring 34 within the cover 3() in position to rest upon the upper edge of the cream can.

The arrangement of the cams 28 and 33 is 3 such that rotation of the cover 30 to secure the cover to the cream can will be in a direction to increase the clamping engagement of the lugs 25 with their cams 28, and rotation of the cover 30 to release the same will be in a direction to disengage the lugs 25 from their cams 28. It is desirable, however, that the cover 30 may be firmly engaged with the cream can and disengaged therefrom without disturbing the locking engagement of the Cream can with the closure 11; this is accomplished by giving the cams 33 a steeper pitch than the cams 28, and also by providing wider bearing surfaces at the opposite faces of the gasket 29 than are provided at the opposite faces of the gasket 34, so that a greater force will be required to rotate the can within the closure 11 than will be required to turn the cover 39 upon the cream. can.

Should the locking engagement of the lugs 25 with the cams 28 become so tight that difficulty is experienced in rotating the can 12 in a direction to release the same, this difficulty is met by providing` the ring 20 with he projections 35 that extend downwardly from the cam elements 33, which projections are adapted to be engaged by the inwardly extending lugs 32 formedupon the cancover 30. The arrangement is such that hammering action may be exerted upon the cream can in a direction to release the same from its locking cams 28 by merely rotating the cover 30 upon the cream can in a direction to cause the lugs 32 to strike against the proj ections 35.

A stirrer or agitator may or may not be employed with the type of freezer so far described, and in the embodiment of the invention illustrated no provision is made for the use of a stirrer for stirring vor agitating the cream within the cream can. In the type of freezers in which agitators are not employed, it may be desirable to invert the ice cream freezer during the freezing operation to promote freezing of the cream in the upper end of the cream can. If the ice cream freezer is to be inverted, it is of course essential that the closure be rendered water-tight and that the cover 30 shall be so constructed that it will prevent cream from escaping from the cream can. The means above described for removably securing the cover 30 to the upper end of the cream can and for removably securing the can 12 within the closure will constitute water-tight joints, ifrthe gaskets 29 'and 84 are employed.

In order to prevent water from escaping through the ice receiving opening 19V of the closure 11 when the freezer is turned upside down, this opening is preferably provided with the cover 36 having the downwardly extending flange 37 which flange may besurrounded by the gasket 38. The means illustrated for tightly securing the cover 36 to the closure consists of a bridge bar 39 which is rigidly secured to the lower end of a post 40 that is rotatably mounted in the boss 4l of the cover and at the upper end of the post 40 is rigidly secured the knob or thumb piece 42 adapted to rotate the post 40 and bridge Vbar 39 to turn the latter transversely of the cover 36 into locking engagement with the cams 43 provided at the under face of the closure 11. Leakage through the hollow boss 41 around the rotating shaft 40 may be prevented by providing the packing material 44 confined in an annular recess in the under face of the knob 42.

It is apparent that various means might be employed for tightly securing the closure 11 to the upper end of the tub 10, but the present invention relates to a novel construction whereby the connection between the closure and tub serves also to support the inner container 15 in spaced relation to the walls of the outer container 14. This is accomplished, in accordance with the present invention, by providing the outer flanged portion 45 of the closure with an annular shoulder 46 to which the upper end of the inner container 15 is soldered or otherwiserigidly secured. The flanged portion 45 of the closure is provided with a second annular shoulder 47 to which the upper end of the outer container 14 is soldered or otherwise rigidly secured, the construction being such that a firm, water-tight joint is provided between the closure and the upper end of the tub 10, and at the same time the closure serves to support the inner container 15 within the outer container 14, in spaced relation thereto. l

It will be seen from the foregoing that an ice cream freezer of the invertible type is provided while at the same time the construction is such that the cream can may be readily removed from and'secured to the closure, and

the can cover 30 and closure 86 for the ice receiving opening are so constructed that they will prevent leakage when the freezer is turned upside down. In the construction shown the cream can 12 is illustrated as disposed eccentrically within the tub 10. This, however, is not an essential fe-ature of the present invention in all of its embodiments, but is a desirable construction in that by placing the can 12 eccentrically within the tub 10, room is secured for the formation of a relatively large ice receiving opening 19 in the closure, so that comparatively large pieces of ice will pass through the opening 19 into the freezer tub 10.

What is claimed is z- 1. An ice cream freezer, comprising in combination, a cream can, a tub, a closure secured to the upper portion Vof the tub to confine the cold air therein and provided with an opening for the cream can, a laterally extending flange adjacent the upper end of the cream can for support-ing the can suspended from the closure and locking means for removably `securing the upper portion of the can in said opening with a water-tight joint, including cams upon the closure at its lower Yface and cooperating projections on the can below said flange and a packing ring confined between the flange and closure.

2. An'ice cream freezer, comprising in combination, a cream can, av tub, a closure secured to the upper portion of the tub to confine the cold air therein and provided with an opening for the cream can, a' laterally extending flange adjacent the upper end of the cream can for supporting the can within the closure and locking means located below said flange for removably securing the can in said open-` ing including a bayonet-joint connection between the can and closure and cams for exerting a clamping action between the can and closure.

3. An invertible ice cream freezer, comprising in combination, a cream can, a tub,

VaV water-tight closure secured to the upper portion of the tub and provided withY an opening for the cream-canw andv a second opening for introducing ice into the tub, a watertight cover for the ice receiving opening, a water-tight cover for said can, a laterally extending annular flange adjacent the upper end of the cream can adapted to support the can from the closure, a bayonet-joint connection between the can and closure, and cams at the under face of the closure for securing the can to the closure with a watertight joint.

4. An invertible ice cream freezer, comprising in combination, a cream can, a tub, a Water-tight closure secured to the upper portion of the tub and provided with an opening for the cream can and a second opening for introducing ice into the tub, an elongated water-tight cover for the ice receiving opening, a water-tight cover for said can, cam means for locking the can cover and ice opening cover in place, a laterally extending annular flange adjacent the upper end of the cream can, a packing ring confined between the flange and upper face of the closure, and cams located below said flange for holding the flange against the packing ring to form a water-tight joint.

5. An ice cream freezer, comprising in combination, a creamcan, a tub, a closure secured tothe upper portion of the tub and provided with a can receiving opening, a bayonet-joint connection and cooperating cams for removably securing the can to the closure, a cover for the can, and cooperating lugs upon the can and cover and arranged to exert a hammering action on the can upon rotation of the cover to release the can from the closure.

6. An ice cream freezer, comprising in combination, a cream can, a tub, a closure secured to the upper portion of the tub and provided with a can receiving opening, means for removably securing the can. to the closure including projections and cooperating cams, a cover for the can, and means for removably securing the cover to the can including projections on the cover and arranged to exert a hammering action on the can upon rotation of the cover to release the can from the closure.

7. An icc cream freezer, comprising in combination, a cream can, a tub, a closure secured to the upper portion of the tub and provided with a can receiving opening, and means for tightly but removably securing the can to the closure, comprising a ring secured to the upper portion of the cream can and provided with a laterally extending flange that is supported by the closure, cams provided at the under face of the closure, and projections on said ring adapted to engage said cams and lock the can in the can receiving opening of the closure.

8. An ice cream freezer, comprising in combination, a cream can, a tub, a closure secured to the upper portion of the tub and provided with a can receiving opening, a

ring secured to the upper portion of the cream can and provided with a laterally extending flange for supporting the can suspended from the closure, means for removably securing the can to the closure, a cover for the can, and cooperating projections on the cover and ring for securing the cover to the can.

9. An ice cream freezer, comprising in combination, a cream can, a tub, a closure secured to the upper portion of the tub and provided with a can receiving opening, a ring secured to the upper portion of the cream can and provided with a laterally extending flange for supporting the cam from the clo-l sure and with cover locking cams above said flange, cams provided at the under face of said closure, projections on said ring adapted to cooperate with the closure cams to secure the can in place, and a cover for the can having projections adapted to engage the first mentioned cams to lock the. cover in place.

l0. An ice cream freezer, comprising in combination` a can, a double wall tub oo nsisting of an outer container and an inner container supported one inside the other in spaced relation to provide an air space between them, and a dished closure having a depressed central portion provided with :1.95 can receiving opening and a raised annular flange provided with shoulders that are rigidly secured to the upper ends of the inner and outer containers.

11. An ice cream freezer, comprising in -v100 combination, a can, a double wall tub consisting of an outer container and an inner container supported one inside the other to provide an air space between them, and a dished closure having a depressed central 105 portion provided with a can opening and an ice receiving opening and a raised outer periphery provided with shoulders that are rigidly secured to the upper ends of the inner and outer containers.

12. An ice cream freezer, comprising in combination, a cream can, a tub, a closure secured to the upper portion of the tub and provided with a vcan receiving opening, a laterally extending flange adjacent the up- 1115 per end of the cream can for supporting the can suspended from the closure, and means for removably securing the can to the closure including cams and cooperating projections located below said flange and opera- T120 ble to hold the flange tightly against its supporting means carried by the closure.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALFRED L. ROEBUCK. 

